magnetosphere

noun

mag·ne·to·sphere | \ mag-ˈnē-tə-ˌsfir

, -ˈne- \

Definition of magnetosphere

: a region of space surrounding a celestial object (such as a planet or star) that is dominated by the object's magnetic field so that charged particles are trapped in it

Other Words from magnetosphere Example Sentences Learn More About magnetosphere

Examples of magnetosphere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web These influence the magnetosphere to take a huge comet-like shape that envelops Earth and forms a tail that stretches far out, away from the sun. — Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 18 July 2022 What the solar flare video doesn’t show, is the changes in the Earth’s radiation belts, and even the currents in our magnetosphere. — Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 20 June 2022 Juno's Waves instrument captured the track by measuring radio and plasma waves in Jupiter's magnetosphere. — Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Dec. 2021 Researchers suspect the change may have occurred when the Juno probe entered a different part of Ganymede's magnetosphere. — Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Dec. 2021 The Northern Lights are driven primarily by solar winds -- particles emitted from the sun that flow out through space and tear through Earth's magnetosphere, creating a colorful light show. — Katie Hunt, CNN, 12 Oct. 2021 The plan is built around the idea of giving Mars an artificial magnetosphere. — Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 10 Dec. 2021 And with the impending geomagnetic storm, which is a big disturbance of the Earth's magnetosphere, the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, activity is forecast to be high. — Tori B. Powell, CBS News, 30 Oct. 2021 The belts are part of Earth's magnetosphere, or the region of space where Earth's magnetic field interacts with solar wind. — Ashley Strickland, CNN, 18 Aug. 2020 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'magnetosphere.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for magnetosphere

magneto- + -sphere

Note: Term introduced by the Austrian-born physicist Thomas Gold (1920-2004) in "Motions in the Magnetosphere of the Earth," Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 64, no. 9 (September, 1959), pp. 1219-24.